High flow tap for dispensing fluids from a container and related applications

Abstract

A tap dispenser assembly for use with a fluid container including a tap body, a spring button, and a valve. The tap body includes an attachment portion, a dispensing portion, and a fluid channel with an upper wall and a lower wall. The dispensing portion includes a valve stem guide and a guide support. The guide support is above the lower wall and/or the upper wall. The valve is connected to the spring button and is slidingly inserted into the valve stem guide. The tap dispenser assembly has a closed position where the spring button is not depressed and the valve seals the dispensing portion and an open position where the spring button is depressed and the seal between the valve and dispensing portion is broken, allowing fluid to flow from the tap dispenser assembly.

1 . A tap dispenser for use with a fluid container, the tap dispenser comprising:
 a tap body comprising an attachment portion, a channel portion, and a dispensing portion, and a valve stem guide, wherein:
 the attachment portion is configured to connect to a spout of the fluid container, and 
 the channel portion fluidly connecting the attachment portion and the dispensing portion; 
   a spring button sealingly attached to the dispensing portion; and   a valve attached to the spring button and slidingly inserted through the valve stem guide;   wherein the tap dispenser has:
 a closed position in which the spring button is in a non-deflected position and holds the valve in sealing contact with a valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion to prevent fluid flow out of the dispensing portion, and 
 an open position in which the spring button is deflected downward to force the valve downward such that the valve is not in contact with the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion to allow fluid to flow out of the tap dispenser; and 
   wherein the dispenser portion further comprises a protective shroud spaced radially outward from the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion.   
     
     
         2 . The tap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the protective shroud extends below the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion. 
     
     
         3 . The tap dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein, when the tap dispenser is in the open position, the valve extends below the protective shroud. 
     
     
         4 . The tap dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein, when the tap dispenser is in the open position, a distance that the valve extends below the protective shroud is greater than a distance that the protective shroud extends below the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a flexible seal surface that is in contact with the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion when the tap dispenser is in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The tap dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of a lower portion of the flexible seal surface of the valve is less than 0.024 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The tap dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the thickness of the lower portion of the flexible seal surface of the valve is 0.014 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The tap dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of a lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion is less than 0.016 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The tap dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion is 0.008 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The tap dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of a lower portion of the flexible seal surface of the valve is less than 0.024 inches, and wherein a thickness of a lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion is less than 0.016 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The tap dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the lower portion of the flexible seal surface of the valve is 0.014 inches, and wherein the thickness of the lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion is 0.008 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The tap dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of a lower portion of the flexible seal surface of the valve is greater than a thickness of a lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion. 
     
     
         13 . The tap dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the valve sealing surface of the dispensing portion is tapered. 
     
     
         14 . The tap dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein a lower portion of the protective shroud is not tapered.